Celtic Double Delight

Wales are the Six Nations Champions! Something we didn’t think we would be saying this year.

Last night Scotland dashed France’s hopes with a stunning victory in Paris. With a bit more luck, it could have been Scotland who were the champions after their victories in Paris and London and two really narrow defeats by Wales and Ireland. Congratulations to Scotland who are developing a powerful squad that will take some beating in the years ahead. Finishing in fourth place seems scant reward for a great campaign but at least they are above the “Auld Enemy”.

Watching the match on the TV, the tension was unbelievable at times as the French looked more than capable of gaining the twenty one point victory margin that they so desperately needed to overhaul Wales in the Championship table. For the first time, I really got to feel what it is like to be a Scotland supporter and it is even more stressful than supporting Wales and Pontypool!

When Scotland scored the first try of the match through van Der Merwe, you sensed how heartily fed up they were of being written off by all and sundry and hearing that the match was all about how many France were going to win by. Rather like at Twickenham earlier in the season, Scotland were going to do their damnedest to prove the pundits wrong. This was mighty good news for the Welsh hunched over their TV sets in their front rooms.

It was far from plain sailing as France eased their way into the match on a rainy night which certainly was not helpful to their cause. France led 13-10 at half time and had scored one of the four tries they needed. Three tries and an eighteen points margin did not look beyond them especially as Hogg had been yellow carded for the first ten minutes of the second half.

France soon had their second try on the board when Penaud scored and now led 18-10 – another step nearer to breaking Welsh hearts. That missed conversion might be vital though, I thought.

Scotland were having none of it and soon were hammering at the French line. They took a penalty to close the gap to 18-13 and showed that they were not about to go away. They continued to harry the French and as the third quarter scored their second try through hooker Cherry after the ball ricocheted into his arms close to the French line. Scotland had taken the lead at 18-20 and made France’s task all the more daunting. France had it all to do just to win the game with twenty minutes remaining. I still couldn’t make myself believe that Wales would be Champions though.

The French still believed and hit back with their third try from Rebbadj after a period of pressure on the French line. Another conversion missed but they were back in the lead at 23-20

Scotland bounced back and attacked strongly but spurned the several penalty opportunities that would have helped the Welsh cause if not their own desire not to settle for a draw. Still the clock was winding down nicely and there were only ten minutes remaining when Scotland attacked the French line through Russell.  His fend on the French fullback Dulin was deemed dangerous and he was shown a red card. Was this the glimmer of a chance that the French needed? They surely couldn’t score eighteen points in nine minutes could they?

If it was their opportunity, they squandered it with a yellow card for Serin a couple of minutes later. You sensed that the French knew that the game was up and dejection sped through their ranks. All Scotland saw was a chance of a famous victory and they were not about to let it pass.  With the clock in the red the French had a chance to kill the game and at least take the victory. They dallied with the ball and gave away a stupid penalty. This was all that Scotland needed and a couple of minutes later van Der Merwe was over for a try in the corner. The conversion was good and Scotland had snatched victory 23-27 at the death just like France had done to Wales the previous week.

When I look back on the match, France never really looked like winning by the twenty one point margin they needed to ruin my evening. It did not seem so at the time though as good old Welsh pessimism was to the fore. A combination of the weather, six day turn round after a hard match with Wales and the lack of a crowd will have all made it more difficult for France but what really made it almost insurmountable was the commitment and skill of a doughty Scottish team who were in their faces all match. 

Well done Scotland!

Wales can celebrate being Six Nation’s Champions. It is a pity that it couldn’t have happened with the team on the field in front of a full house but these are strange times. Never mind it is a brilliant achievement and I congratulate everyone involved.

Well done Wales!